Damage from mudslides, floods in Tajikistan over $3 million

DUSHANBE, July 20. /TASS/. The damage from mudslides and floods in Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan district over recent days has exceeded $3 million, head of the local emergencies committee’s press service Orif Nozimov told TASS on Monday.

"The damage may be even bigger when we receive full information, which is analysed now by a special commission headed by Deputy Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda," he said.

The emergencies committee reported the mudslides and the floods had destroyed about 60 houses, several trade and cultural facilities, irrigation canals and four kilometres of electricity line.

"Luckily, there were no victims," head of press service said, adding emergency food assistance cargo, which was sent to the region, was partially delivered by the country’s civil helicopters.

The government’s official agency Khovar referring to authorities of the region, hit by the natural calamities, said electricity supplies have been partially restored already. Electricity is supplied now 14 hours a day. During the flood two local hydroelectric plants, producing electricity for the republic’s eastern regions, were stopped.

Tajikistan, where 93% of the territory is taken by mountains, faces mudslides and floods regularly, especially at the times of glaciers’ intensive melting.